Taiwanese editor dropped from fashion magazine post in China

2018/05/06 20:43:20

Image taken from Pixabay

Beijing, May 6 (CNA) A Taiwanese editor, tapped to head a men's fashion magazine in China, was replaced at the last minute, allegedly due to a ribbon he wore at a farewell party that read "take back the mainland."

The Mainland China Fashion Business Bulletin recently reported that GQ China, the Chinese language edition of the world's leading men's magazine GQ, on May 4 promoted deputy managing editor Zeng Ming (曾鳴) to the position of managing editor, effective immediately.

The report indicated that Blues To (杜祖業), a Taiwan national and editor-in-chief of GQ Taiwan, who had been originally given the position of GQ China managing editor, had the offer withdrawn for "personal reasons."

However, photos circulating on social media which show To wearing a ribbon with the wording "take back the mainland" at a farewell party thrown by his GQ Taiwan colleagues is believed to be the reason for the change of mind by GQ China.

"Take back the mainland" was one of the slogans coined by late ROC President Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) as a show of determination to reconquer China following the defeat of the Nationalist forces in China's civil war.

The use of the slogan by someone about to work in China demonstrated a "lack of political sensitivity," some in China's media community have been saying.

Several Taiwanese people working in Beijing observed that Taiwanese thinking about working in China should pay attention to the case because they need to master the art of self-censorship and refrain from things that are commonplace in Taiwan.

GQ is owned by Conde Nast, an American mass media company. Its Chinese edition was launched in 2009 in partnership with China News Service.